Meet the 2018 Mac Mini

With a move to 8th Generation Core desktop CPUs, PCI Express SSDs, and a whole new roster of connectivity, the Mac mini remains a compelling space-saver for macOS users looking for a ready-to-go home-theater PC, desktop workstation, or music- and video-editing sprinter.

Green Aluminum?

The chassis is matte metal, made up of aluminum that, according to Apple, is 100 percent recycled, in part from the chassis-manufacture remnants of other Macs.

Mini Minimal

The only feature on the front or sides is a power-on LED on the front face, with a chromed Apple logo up top. The feel of the all-aluminum chassis is stolid and inflexible, the same rigid-enough-to-support-an-elephant build as ever.

The Underside

Turn the Mac mini over to view the underside, and you'll see a plastic disk of a base that elevates the metal of the chassis from the desk surface. Rotating the disk does nothing; prying it up with a thin tool, though, pops it off. Underneath is a perforated panel that goes to the internals, of which, according to the company, the only serviceable element is the RAM.

Air Around the Ring

Around the perimeter of the plastic disc is a gap that allows for free airflow in and out of the chassis.

Complementary Input

Opting for Bluetooth-interface peripherals would keep two USB ports clear. Depending on your work style and what you do, you might opt for Apple's complementary Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad ($149) and Force Touch-enabled Magic Trackpad 2 ($149), which both connect wirelessly via Bluetooth and match the design.

Multi-Monitor Moxie

The mix of ports around back allows for a wide variety of multi-display possibilities. You can always use the HDMI for a monitor up to 4K native resolution, alongside one or two of the Thunderbolt 3 ports; you can connect one panel at up to a 60Hz refresh rate on the HDMI, and either one 5K display on a Thunderbolt or two up-to-4K panels on two of the Thunderbolts.

The Full Back Panel

Below the four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports you can see the rear exhaust. To its right is the headphone jack, not accompanied by a line or mic in.

In Sum, Still a Winner

Apart from the too-modest dollop of storage, the 2018 mini delivers enough speed, flexibility, and connectivity to satisfy a wide swath of possible Mac shoppers. Only those needing the sheer muscle of a many-core solution will need to look higher up the stack of Mac.